DUNWOODY, Ga. — Once a year, the folks at Stage Door Players — actors, directors, technicians, board members, volunteers and patrons — get together to recognize and celebrate the good work we’ve all enjoyed during the previous season. This year was no different as the crowd came together on Aug. 18 to celebrate Stage Door’s 45th season.

The entire season had been about celebrations, right down to the shows themselves. Over the past 12 months, performances celebrated friendship, family, heritage, nostalgia and diversity. Each show left its mark on us all. Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal shared remarks with audience members before awards were given, recognizing Artistic Director Robert Egizio as the driving force behind the success of Stage Door Players. He also thanked the actors and actresses for showing us what entertainment is all about and welcomed them in particular as part of the Dunwoody family.

Now, let’s move on to the awards!

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play – Jared Simon in “The Last Night of Ballyhoo”

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play – Susan Shalhub Larkin in “A Nice Family Christmas”

Best Costume Design – Jim Alford for “The Last Night of Ballyhoo”

Best Lighting Design – J. D. Williams for “Secrets of a Soccer Mom”

Best Set Design – Charles Welcome for “The Last Night of Ballyhoo”

Best Sound Design – Rial Ellsworth for “Ain’t Misbehavin’”

Best Props Design – Kathy Ellsworth for “Laughter on the 23rd Floor”

Best Direction – Mira Hirsch for “The Last Night of Ballyhoo”

Additional technical awards were presented to the following individuals:

Excellence in Wig Design – George Deavours

Excellence in Musical Direction – Nick Silvestri

Excellence in Choreography – Jordan Keyon Moncrief

Excellence in Stage Management – AJ Stevenson, Meghan Zern and Bill Byrne

The winner of the Shayne Kohout Newcomer Award was Hannah Morris for her performance in “Secrets of a Soccer Mom.” This award, in memory of the actress for whom it is named, seeks to honor someone who made his or her debut at Stage Door during the past season and exhibits the type of spirit and attitude that epitomized Ms. Kohout and the gifts she brought to theatre and to life.

Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Play – Robert Egizio in “Laughter on the 23rd Floor”

Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Play was a tie – Pamela Gold Anderson in “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” and Suzanne Roush in “A Red Plaid Shirt”

Best Performance in a Musical – Melissa Youngblood in “Ain’t Misbehavin’

The winner of the Artistic Director’s Award this year was the cast of “Laughter on the 23rd Floor.” 

“This award is given to publicly acknowledge the special impact that the recipients have had at Stage Door in the past year,” Egizio said. “Typically, it is given to someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty, many times behind the scenes, providing great service to the theatre. This year, I wish to specifically recognize the members of the cast for the amazing way they stepped up when one of their cast members was hospitalized for a few days less than a week prior to opening night. They all stepped up in amazing and creative ways so that the show would go on, and I thank each of them from the bottom of my heart.”

Past winners of the Artistic Director’s Award include Beverly Powell, Charles Welcome, Courtney Loner, Jim Redovian, R. Todd Fleeman, Linda Uzelac, Marcie Millard, Hampton Whatley, J.D. Williams, and Meredy Shortal.

Appreciation awards were also given by Egizio to Blooms of Dunwoody, Marlow’s Tavern, California Pizza Kitchen, Beth McCool and Hank Corriher, Discover Dunwoody, and Image 360.

Best Ensemble Cast – Matt Baum, Erin Burnett, Robert Egizio, Rachel Frawley, Mark Gray, Davin Grindstaff,, Shaun MacLean, Daniel Parvis, and Doyle Reynolds for “Laugher on the 23rd Floor.”

Best Show of the Season – “The Last Night of Ballyhoo”

Stage Door Players’ 2019-2020 season opens with “The Savannah Sipping Society,” a show about four Southern women who all need to escape their day-to-day routines and find lasting friendships and a renewed determination to live in the moment. To purchase individual or season tickets, please visit Stage Door on the Web at www.stagedoorplayers.net or call (770) 396-1726. 

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